Tips and Tricks

Steps Recorder

When it comes to dealing with an issue within your solution, and logging this issue with our support team, it can be difficult and confusing to try and explain what is happening. Being able to instead show others what is happening can make a significant difference to the speed and efficiency of the resolution. This is where Steps Recorder comes in.

Steps Recorded (Problem Steps Recorder in Windows 7) is a program that helps users troubleshoot a problem on their device by recording the exact steps taken when the problem occurred. This record can then be sent to the support team to help them diagnose the problem.

Without Steps Recorder, a user would have to explain in detail each step they are taking to replicate the issue they are having. Usually, the best way to do this is to manually write out what they are doing and take screenshots of every single window they see.

With Steps Recorder, all of this is done automatically while the user is on their computer, which means they don't have to worry about anything but starting and stopping Steps Recorder and then sending the result to PA Support.

How to use Steps Recorder:

1. To open Steps Recorder, select the Start button, and then select Windows Accessories Steps Recorder (in Windows 10), or Accessories > Problem Steps Recorder (in Windows 7 or Windows 8.1).
2. Select Start Record.
3. Go through the steps to reproduce the problem you're trying to diagnose. You can pause and resume the recording at any time.
4. As you record, select Add Comment, use your mouse to select the part of the screen that you want to comment on, type your comment, and then select OK. (Optional)
5. When you're done, select Stop Record.
6. Review the record of the steps you followed to make sure it shows what you want it to show.
7. Select Save, name the .zip file, choose where to save it, and then select Save.

You can see Steps Recorder in action in this video.